Joseph keoupa



(No Model.)

. J. KROUPA.

BRAKE LEVER.

No. 349,941. I Patented Sept. 28, 1886.

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UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH KROUPA, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

BRAKE-LEVER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 349,941, dated September 28, 1886.

Application filed February 152, 1886. Serial No. 191,730.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOSEPH KROUIA, a citizen of the United States, residing at St. Louis, in the county of St. Louis and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Brake-Levers; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon,.which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to brake-levers; and it consists in the novel features shown and hereinafter more particularly set forth and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a side view of a lever constructed in accordance with and adapted to carry out my invention. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same with the pawl-operating lever removed. Fig. 3 is perspective View of the lower portion of. the

pawl-operating rod. Fig. 4 is a perspective View of a portion of the sliding rod. Fig. 5 is a View in perspective of the washer for holding the pawl-operating rod in place. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the combined stop and guide-keeper.

The ratchet-segment A and hand-lever B is of usual construction, and its application is well understood. Two of such segments A are secured together at each end, leaving a space between them in which the hand-lever is free to move. A pawl, O, sleeved on the lever is of suffieient width to engage with the segments, and is actuated by a sliding rod, D,

having a T- head, (7, on its lower end to engage an inverted-T opening, 0, in the side of the sleeve pawl. The upper portion of the rod works through a keeper, 0, and its end (2 is bent to one side and has a pin, d, projecting laterally therefrom to work in a slot, f, in the end of the horizontal arm of the bellcrank lever F. At a suitable distance above the pawl the hand-lever is provided with a clip or keeper, G, held in place by a pin, 9, or by a set-screw, g. The latter is preferred, as it permits a longitudinal adjustment of the clip to regulate the tension of a spiral spring, H, located between it and the pawl, by which the (No model.)

latter is caused to engage the teeth of the segment. The keeper has a side projection, G, through which the rod D works, and by which it is guided in its movements. A flange, g

projecting from the lower edge of the keeper affords a purchase for one end of the spiral spring. The keeper-and flange are preferably made in one piece. The T-head of the pawloperating rod simply rests in the inverted-T opening in the pawl, and to prevent its displacement a washer, I. is employed, which, resting on the topof the pawl, also forms a purchase for the opposite end of the spring II, as will be readily understood.

From the foregoing description the operation of the device is manifest.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination, with the segment and the hand-lever, of a pawl having an inverted- T opening in its side, and an operating-rod terminating in a T- head resting in said open ing and forming the means of contact between the rod and pawl, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination, with the double segment, the hand-lever working between them, and a pawl sleeved on the lever and engaging the double segment, of an Operating-rod engaging said pawl, a stop, a spring interposed between the stop and pawl, and a bell-crank lever pivoted to the upper end of the handlever and having a slot in its horizontal arm, in which works a pin projecting from the upper bent end of the operating-rod, substan- 

